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Abandoned S. Fork Root River Bridge

Through Girder Bridge over S. Fork Root River
Houston Houston County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Abandoned S. Fork Root River Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By Private Owner
Length 85 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Fabricated 1895
Date Erected 1928
Original Location Bridge #I-646; Galt, Missouri
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned
MILW Bridge Number Q-80
Significance Local Significance


Located just east of Houston, this large girder span can easily be seen from Minnesota Highway 16.
Originally built in 1895 across Little Medicine Creek at Bridge #I-646 near Galt, Missouri; this span was moved here in 1928 to replace an older pile trestle.
Railroads oftentimes reused older spans to save money, particularly on branch lines. Currently, the bridge consists of a single 85 foot through girder, set onto concrete substructures.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. It is currently privately owned.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Central Library
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele